Before knowing about the efficient acquisition and retention of knowledge, let us know the importance of knowledge, the definition of knowledge, the magnitude of knowledge, the extent of knowledge one can know and the usual methods of acquisition of knowledge.

First, let us know the importance of knowledge. Man is able to lead a comfortable life whereas animals cannot enjoy comforts as they cannot make use of accumulated knowledge. Benefits of electricity like lighting, heating, cooling and other modern comforts are because of growth in scientific and technical knowledge. On the other hand, humanities, facilitate happy life. For example, implementation of the suggestions of Bertrand Russel in his book 'Conquest of Happiness' can lead to happy life. As knowledge is of immense use, let us study it systematically.

What is knowledge?

How vast is knowledge?

How much should we know?

How is knowledge acquired?

How can we acquire knowledge efficienty?

How can we retain knowledge?

Let us answer the first question: What is knowledge? In simple terms, what, why, how, who, when and where of anything is knowledge. For example, answers to the following questions constitute knowledge about independence. What is independence? Why independence? How did India get independence? When did India get independence? Who led our independence movement?

Now, let us know how vast is knowledge. It is as vast as Universe. As man is probing the solar system, galaxies, etc., his knowledge is getting accumulated more and more at the macro level. Similarly, at the micro level too man is accumulating knowledge about cells, genes, genoms, atoms, electrons, protons, neutrons, etc. Like this man is acquiring endless knowledge. As a result, the tree of knowledge is developing many new branches: microbiology, radio-chemistry, astro-physics, etc.

It is possible for a single person or a group of persons to acquire all this knowledge? Impossible. Neither a single person nor a group of persons can acquire the entire knowledge even if they spend all their lives in the pursuit of knowledge. We can only know a fragment of the knowledge as knowledge is a vast as universe. It is also not necessary for any single individual to know everything of all things. If one knows everything of something, he becomes a specialist like a cardiologist, a radiologist, etc. On the other hand, if one knows something of everything, he becomes a generalist like an administrator, a journalist, etc. Hence, knowledge that is to be pursued depends on one's profession.

The next question is: How is knowledge acquired? It is acquired mainly by reading, listening, observation and experience. Of course, much of our knowledge is acquired by reading. Knowledge is also acquired by listening to teachers, radio talks, audio-cassettes, etc. Of late, audio-visual aids like Educational T.V., Video, C.Ds, Internet, etc. are also aiding acquisition of knowledge.

In certain areas, observation and experience aid acquisition of knowledge. A farmer's son acquires the knowledge of farming by observation and experience. In traditional societies, knowledge of various crafts like carpentry, etc. was acquired by observation and experience. Nowadays, boys in private scooter repair shops acquire knowledge by observation and experience. Moreover, experience facilitates acquisition of knowledge of finer aspects as it is not possible to convey through words the subtle distinction between two closely related things. For example, the subtle difference in the sweetness of a 'laddu' and a 'rasagulla' cannot be conveyed effectively thrugh words. If one experiences by tasting them, he would know the subtle difference in their sweetness. Of course, it is not possible to experience everything. For example, cyanide cannot be experienced as if one tastes it, he will not be alive to tell the world its taste.

Moving on to the issue of efficient acquisition of knowledge, the amount of knowledge is directly proportional to the time we spen in acquiring knowledge and efficiency with which we acquire it.

Efficient acquisition of knowledge calls for rational outlook, concentration and better reading methods. Let us know wht is meant by rational outlook? It is a mental process of raising questions to know about things. This rational outlook is responsible for teh knowledge which we possess today. These questions are: What, why, how, who, when and where. For example, on knowledge, we can raise the above questions; What is knowledge? Why is knowledge acquired? How is knowledge acquired?, etc.

Concentration is confining attention to a particular topic. The degree of concentration differes from person to person. Of course, concentration can be cultivated to a considerable extent. How can this be cultivated? By rationally interacting with what one is reading or listening. What then is rational interaction? Raising questions like How does he substantiate his point? What exactly does he mean when he uses a particular word? Is there a logical connection in his thought? Does he prove his point by giving examples? What example can I give in the light of my experience? Let us take a passage and try out this technique.

After reading the first sentence, we should ask the questions: how does he substantiate the point that deforestation is taking place on a massive scale? What does he mean by deforestation? Immediately we realise that the second sentence substantiates the point, and the third sentence answers the question: what does he mean by deforestation?

Let us move on to the better reading methods. Usually, every few lines are about some aspect of the topic or other. Identify the aspect and write it in the margin. This can be done better by posing the question: What is it about? For instance, the topic deforestation deals with various aspects like causes of deforestation and consequences of deforestation. We should write aspect in margin. Let us do an exercise.

Separate points form examples and statistics by underlining. Then, write the points in the margin in a phrase or a word. For example, the aspect of causes of deforestation has many points like fuel wood requirement of poor, mining, construction of dams, etc. These points can be separated from examples and statistics by underlining. They can be written in the margin like fuel wood requirement, (a phrase), and mining, (a word). Let us use the earlier passage for illustration.

The next issue is how to retain knowledge that is acquired, Retention of knowledge is nothing but memory. Conversion of the points or ideas of the writer or the speaker into synonymous words by the reader or the listener is one of the effective ways of retaining knowledge. Once a person converts points into synonymous words, he will not forget as this type of conversion calls for understanding. Let us apply this point to a passage of Bertrand Russell.

Often memory problem arises with dates and names. To retain dates and figures, one has to rely on a few techniques like association and observation. An unfamiliar date has to be associated with a familiar date either wholly or partially. For example, most of us are familiar with the Revolt of 1857. By using this familiar year, we can remember certain unfamiliar years like 1757, the year of the Battle of Plassey; 1657, the year of war of succession among the sons of Shahjahan. The technique of association here is that a century before 1857, that is in 1757, the Battle of Plassey took place and two centuries before 1857, that is, in 1657, the war of succession among the sons of Shahjahan, took place.

By relying on partial association also, we can remember dates. If we can recall a date partially by relying on partial association, the remaining part of the date can be recalled by true memory. For example, the year of the establishment of Bahamani dynasty, that is, 1347 can be remembered by associating 47 of 1347 with 47 of 1947 which is a very familiar year as we got independence in that year.

Association can be used even when there are no similiar numbers For example, if we want to remember the year of founding of Fabian Society, that is 1884, we can remember it by associating it with 1885, a familiar year as Indian National Congress was founded in this year. Here, 1884 has to be associated with 1885 by thinking that it is one year ahead of 1885.

Observation based on ascending order or descending order in the dates involved is also of immense use. For example, the year of the establishment of Mauryan Empire, that is, 321 B.C can be remembered by starting with 1 from the right side or the end side and following the ascendency principle, that is 1,2,3.

The year of French Revolution, that is, 1789, can be remembered by relying on partial ascendancy involved in this year, that is, 7,8,9. From 7 there is an increase by 1. If we want to remember the whole year, we have to think of one week. When we think of one week, first 1 comes to our mind; then, 7 comes to our mind; that is 1 and 7. After 7 we can rely on partial ascendancy.

Thus, like this association and observation can be used in similar ways in remembering years and numbers.

Coming to memorising names, we have to rely on the techniques of association and conversion into images. Regarding association and conversion into images. Regarding association, an unfamiliar name has to be associated with either totally similar sounding name or with partially similar sounding name. For example, we can remember Launda, capital of Angola, by associating it with 'laundry', a similar sounding familiar word.

Names can also be remembered by converting them into images. Launda can be visualised as a city with many laundries. Though, these associations conversions into images are illogical, this is being done to serve a limited purpose of remembering these names.

'Knowledge is Power'. Attain it. Retain it,